Effects of testosterone treatment in older men

The double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) is accepted by medicine as the gold standard objective scientific methodology, and provides the highest strength of evidence for the effectiveness of a treatment.1-4 An accumulating body of evidence shows that treating hypogonadal men with testosterone therapy provides a number of wide-ranging benefits beyond mere relief of symptoms, including improvements in muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, fat mass (both total body fat and visceral fat), endothelial function, blood pressure, lipid profile and bone mineral density.5,6

Recent clinical practice guidelines state that testosterone therapy is safe if treatment and monitoring are appropriately executed7-9, and the totality of available evidence to date does not support alleged concerns regarding risk of cardiovascular disease10 and prostate cancer.11 Despite this, opponents state that the clinical benefits and potential long-term risks of testosterone therapy have not been adequately assessed in large RCTs, and that therefore a general policy of testosterone replacement in all older men with age-related decline in testosterone levels is not justified.12

To address the lack of large RCTs on testosterone therapy, the US National Institute of Health has funded The Testosterone Trials, which is a coordinated set of 7 large double-blind RCTs. Here we report the first results from The Testosterone Trials.13

Key Points

Testosterone treatment for 1 year in men aged 65 years and older improves:

Sexual desire, erectile function, and sexual activity.

Basic activities of daily living and walking speed.

Mood and depressive symptoms.

A greater increase in testosterone levels during treatment is associated with a greater increase in sexual activity and a greater reduction in fatigue.

Men in the testosterone group were more likely than those in the placebo group to report that their sexual desire, perception of walking ability and energy had improved.

The rates of adverse events were similar in the testosterone and placebo groups. During the follow-up year, there were 8 myocardial infarctions in the placebo group compared to 1 in the testosterone group.

Background

The purpose of The Testosterone Trials is to determine whether testosterone therapy would benefit older men with low testosterone levels for no known reason other than age, and with clinical conditions to which low testosterone might contribute. The Testosterone Trials comprise 7 double-blind RCTs, investigating effects on sexual function, physical function, vitality, cardiovascular health, bone density, cognition and anemia, each lasting 1 year.14

The Testosterone Trials include 790 men aged 65 years or older, recruited primarily through mass mailings in 12 U.S. communities, with a total testosterone level of less than 275 ng/dL (9.5 nmol/L). They were randomized to receive testosterone gel or a placebo gel, applied to the skin daily.

The goal of testosterone treatment was to increase testosterone levels to within the normal range for young men and maintain it during the one year treatment period. The initial dose was 5 g of 1% gel. Blood testosterone levels were measured at months 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9, and the dose was adjusted after each measurement, if necessary, to achieve the target range of 500–800 ng/dL (17.3-27.7 nmol/L).

Here we present the results of the first three – Sexual Function, Physical Function and Vitality - of the seven trials. Effects on other outcomes (cardiovascular, bone density, cognition and anemia) will be reported in the future.

What these studies add

To participate in the Sexual Function, Physical Function and Vitality trials, in addition to low testosterone, the presence of at least one of three conditions (low sexual function, difficulty in walking or low vitality) was required.

Of the 790 men who were enrolled, 705 completed 12 months of testosterone or placebo treatment. The results were reported both for each trial separately, and all trials combined.

Sexual function

Averaged over all follow-up visits, testosterone treatment significantly increased sexual activity (assessed with the PDQ-Q4 score) compared to placebo, both among men enrolled in the Sexual Function Trial and among all Testosterone Trials participants.

A greater increase in testosterone level during treatment was associated with a greater increment in sexual activity.

Men in the testosterone group were significantly more likely than those in the placebo group to report that their sexual desire had improved since the beginning of the trial.

Physical function

In men with difficulty walking, testosterone treatment did not significantly affect walking ability, as measured by the distance they could walk in six minutes (6MWT, a common test of walking ability). However, there was a significant between-group difference in favor of testosterone in the change from baseline in the PF-10 score, which asks if perceived health limits physical activity, basic mobility, and basic activities of daily living.

When pooling results from all men in the three trials, walking speed and distance did significantly improve among men who received testosterone compared with men who received placebo.

Men who received testosterone were more likely than those who received placebo to perceive that their walking ability had improved since the beginning of the trial.

Vitality

In the group of men with symptoms of low vitality and fatigue, testosterone treatment did not significantly affect fatigue symptoms, but had favorable effects on mood and reduced severity of depressive symptoms. Despite no overall group effect on fatigue, it was found that a greater increase in testosterone level was associated with a greater improvement in fatigue, and men who received testosterone were more likely than men who received placebo to report that their energy was better at the end of the study.

When pooling results from all men in the three trials, testosterone treatment significantly reduced fatigue symptoms, compared to placebo.

Adverse events and side effects

When comparing serious adverse events between the testosterone and placebo groups, there were more hospitalizations and deaths in the placebo group, 78 vs. 68 and 7 vs. 3, respectively. There was an equal number of myocardial infarctions and strokes in the groups.

As expected, hemoglobin and PSA increased more in the testosterone treated group. However, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), which is used to identify symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Only 1 man (in the testosterone group) received a diagnosis of prostate cancer during the study. 2 men in the testosterone group and 1 in the placebo group received a diagnosis during the subsequent year.

There was no pattern of a difference in risk with respect to other cardiovascular adverse events. However, patients were followed – without treatment – for a second year. In the second year, there were 8 myocardial infarctions in the placebo group compared to 1 in the testosterone group.

Commentary

This first report from The Testosterone Trials provides high quality evidence supporting the benefits and safety of testosterone therapy in men 65 years of age or older. Results show significant improvements in all measures of sexual function and some measures of physical function, mood, and depressive symptoms, and no serious adverse events.

It should be underscored that a greater increase in testosterone level during treatment was associated with a greater increase in sexual activity and a greater reduction in fatigue, and men in the testosterone group were significantly more likely than those in the placebo group to report that their sexual desire, perception of walking ability and energy had improved.

An important feature of this study was the frequent measurement of testosterone levels and dose adjustments to achieve and stay within the therapeutic target of 500-800 ng/dL. Previous studies show that achievement of therapeutic target testosterone levels for the duration of treatment is critical for benefits to manifest.15,16

In the aftermath of previous low quality observational studies17,18 and a smaller RCT of testosterone gel treatment in older diseased men19 which alluded to an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, it is especially notable that testosterone treatment in The Testosterone Trials – the largest RCT to date - does not increase the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke. Surprisingly, there were more hospitalizations and deaths in the placebo group. This is in accordance with other studies, which we have previously presented:

A previous observational study of men treated with testosterone for up to 6 years showed that the benefits of restoring testosterone level in men older than 65 years of age (range 66-84 years) are not significantly different than the benefits seen in men below 65 years of age (range 32-65 years).20 In addition, there were no indications that side effects were more severe in elderly men.20 The three Testosterone Trials reported here confirm that age itself is not a contraindication to testosterone treatment in elderly men, who safely can gain significant health benefits from testosterone therapy.